Daewoong Pharmaceutical presents study on Fexuclue at DDW 2024
Daewoong Pharmaceutical presented research on the efficacy of its potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) class gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment, Fexuclue, at the Digestive Disease Week 2024 (DDW 2024) in Washington D.C., held from last Saturday to Tuesday.
GERD is a condition where stomach acid or contents flow back into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. These symptoms can lead to discomfort and potential tissue damage.
The study presented is the first to evaluate the proportion of symptom-free days during both daytime and nighttime among GERD patients.
It is based on a subgroup analysis from a phase 3 clinical trial conducted in China, focusing on erosive esophagitis (EE). Researchers monitored patients' symptom diaries over eight weeks to determine the frequency of days without major symptoms like heartburn and acid regurgitation.
The findings indicated that Fexuclue showed superior symptom improvement compared to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), specifically esomeprazole.
From day one to week eight, Fexuclue-treated patients experienced a consistently higher percentage of symptom-free days, averaging 8-10 percent more than those treated with esomeprazole.
In patients with moderate to severe GERD, Fexuclue demonstrated rapid and effective symptom relief.
Within the initial one-three days, the proportion of symptom-free days for Fexuclue-treated patients was 40.8 percent, compared to 29.8 percent for those on esomeprazole.
Also, Fexuclue showed notable nighttime symptom relief, with a 12-20 percent higher symptom-free rate over eight weeks compared to the control group.
"Following the successful phase 3 results in Korea, the phase 3 results in China have also provided differentiated data confirming that Fexuclue can rapidly and effectively improve GERD symptoms,” Daewoong Pharmaceutical CEO Lee Chang-jae said. “Based on this, we will focus on strengthening the product capabilities of Fexuclue and positioning it as a best-in-class treatment."